Chongqing - The Italian Design Day 2025 was held in Chongqing's Jiulongpo District on Wednesday. The event aimed to promote high-quality Italian design and foster collaboration between public and private stakeholders.

On March 5, the Italian Design Day 2025 was held at the Jiulong Ecool in Chongqing's Jiulongpo District. (Photo/The event organizer)

"We are glad to host today's event in Chongqing, as it is one of the fastest-growing cities in China, where urbanization, design, environment, and sustainability are becoming increasingly important. For these reasons, Chongqing is a perfect match for Italy in (terms of) design, architecture, and sustainable urban planning. Events like this play a key role in strengthening bilateral dialogue and collaboration in these strategic fields," said Fabio Schina, Italian Consul General in Chongqing.

Fabio Schina, Italian Consul General in Chongqing. (Photo/The event organizer)

Since its inception in 2017, the Italian Design Day has hosted approximately 1,620 events globally, engaging over 600 designers, architects, entrepreneurs, academics, and journalists. These events have showcased Italy's innovation, industrial prowess, and craftsmanship while fostering global exchanges with creative, academic, and business communities.

The 2025 edition highlights the role of design in addressing societal challenges such as climate change, community marginalization, and socioeconomic disparities. "The Italian Design Day 2025 aims to underscore how high-quality design can reduce inequalities and improve everyday life," Schina said, linking the event's theme to the upcoming Milan Triennale, scheduled to take place from May to November 2025 in Milan. 

The event also featured a presentation by Matteo Fioravanti, Senior Vice President of Design at Pininfarina China, and the 2025 Italian Design Ambassador for Chongqing. With a distinguished career that includes collaborations with iconic brands such as Ferrari, Toyota, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia, Fioravanti shared insights on this year's key themes, captivating an audience of industry experts, enthusiasts, and professionals.

Matteo Fioravanti, Senior Vice President of Design at Pininfarina China and the 2025 Italian Design Ambassador for Chongqing, gave the presentation. (Photo/The event organizer)

The event's second half featured a roundtable discussion moderated by Chu Dongzhu, General Manager and Chief Architect of the Chongqing Design Institute. 

The event's second half featured a roundtable discussion. (Photo/The event organizer)

Panelists included Matteo Fioravanti; Professor Huang Yun, Director of the Department of Architecture and Environment at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institution; Edoardo Nieri, architect and founder of Atelier Meadow; and Zheng Huang, Senior Architect at Pininfarina China. The discussion centered on the role of design in tackling modern societal challenges, including climate change, community marginalization, and socioeconomic inequalities.